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HUB Alumni Hall celebrated the year of the pig last night.
The Chinese Friendship Association put together a traditional Chinese New Years event.
A huge banner written in both Chinese and English hung in front of the hall welcoming the incoming crowd. Alumni Hall was illuminated with red, which means predicting fortune in the upcoming year said, Congxing Cai (graduate-computer science).
A sign that said "lucky" with gold lettering with a red background hung near the buffet table. Cai explained that the sign was actually backward and the pronunciation of "lucky" backward has the same pronunciation as "coming," meaning "luck is coming" in the New Year. More than 400 people came to event last night, Xiaole Mao, president of CFA said. In fact, they ran out of food due to the large crowd. Upbeat Chinese music played as the audience chatted loudly and enjoyed the food. Young children in bright traditional Chinese clothing ran around the hall. Flashes of lime green, yellow, and hot pink could be detected from anywhere in the hall.
"This kind of style is for young children. You should wear new clothes for the New Year," Cai said.
Penn State President Graham Spanier even attended the event. He said he was very pleased with the turnout.
"I think its fantastic that we have an entire ballroom filled with Chinese students, their family and faculty. I think it's very important to keep in touch with one's culture and very special when you can bring it to another country," he said.
CFA later welcomed their special guest and had Spanier come onstage and give a speech.
"Throughout your life and career, I hope you keep a little of PSU with you always," he said ending the speech.
After more than an hour, the actual event began. It was a singing contest interspersed with guitar playing, dancing, and many other talents. The winner of the contest, which was picked by the audience, received an iPod shuffle.
The event began with a martial arts performance.
Young boys dressed in bright red and yellow satin clothing air kicked and tumbled on stage. The audience was quite impressed with their talent, 'oohing' and 'ahhing' at every kick and tumble.
A few minutes later, a rainbow of colors danced onstage. Lucky Rhythm performed an upbeat dance in teal dresses with rainbow checkered aprons.
The sleeves were a foot too long gliding along effortlessly with the grace of the dancers' hands.
Although dozens of upbeat dances and songs were sung last night, Stephen Lam (sophomore-music) said he was upset that the audience wasn't more responsive.
"I'm getting bored. The audience should be more responsive. I feel so lonely being excited alone," he said.
PHOTO: Ben Roth
Children performed as part of the Chinese New Years celebration last night.
Article reprinted from The Daily Collegian, referred to online as:
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